Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsapaz’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsapaz’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; intense purple and pink-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zalsapaz’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsapaz’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2000 in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 97P85-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 87F1459-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, since August, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Zalsapaz’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsapaz’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsapaz’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Intense purple and pink-colored flowers.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent         selection differed in flower color as plants of the female         parent selection had purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria flowered year-round whereas         plants of the male parent selection only flowered during the         spring.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         had orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Stabec, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,041. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Stabec in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had broader leaves than plants         of the cultivar Stabec.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the cultivar Stabec         differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Stabec had         red and white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsapaz’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C., soil temperature was about 14° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about one year-old. The photograph and the description were taken during March and April, 2005. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar ‘Zalsapaz’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection             identified as 97P85-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida             identified as 87F1459-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to             155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90             days.         -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 200 to             220.         -   Plant height.—About 130 cm to 160 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About             140 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to 9 mm. Internode length:             About 1 cm to 7 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 133A.         -   Foliage description.—Leaves simple and asymmetrical;             sessile. Length: About 15 cm to 25 cm. Width: About 4.5 cm             to 5.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to oblong. Apex: Acute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern:             Parallel. Color: Developing and fully developed foliage,             upper surface: Close to 139A; slightly glossy; venation,             similar to lamina. Developing and fully developed foliage,             lower surface: Close to 139B; venation, similar to lamina. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and             continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 20 to 25 days.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:             79C.         -   Umbel length.—About 20 cm to 30 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 20 to 25.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8.5 cm to 9.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Outer             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.5 cm to 7.5 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm. Length,             median segment: About 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Width, median             segment: About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm. Shape, lateral and median             segments: Obovate. Apex, lateral and median segments:             Emarginate with apical tip. Base, lateral and median             segments: Attenuate. Margin, lateral and median segments:             Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, lateral and median             segments: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, lateral and             median segments, when opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Random markings of 51A and close to 58A; apical             tip, close to 144A. Color, lateral and median segments, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: 54A; apical tip,             close to 144A. Inner perianth: Length, lateral segments:             About 7 cm to 8 cm. Width, lateral segments: About 2 cm to             3 cm. Length, median segment: About 7 cm to 8 cm. Width,             median segment: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Shape, lateral and             median segments: Oblanceolate. Apex, lateral and median             segments: Acute. Base, lateral and median segments:             Attenuate. Margin, lateral and median segments: Entire;             weakly undulate. Texture, lateral and median segments:             Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, lateral and median             segments, when opening and fully opened, upper surface:             Random markings of 51A and close to 58A; towards the base,             5A; apical tip, close to 4D; stripes, close to 59A. Color,             lateral and median segments, when opening and fully opened,             lower surface: 54A; apical tip, close to 4D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 9 cm to 18 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 10° to 20° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 133A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 10° to 20° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 133A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 1 cm. Anther             diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 166B. Filament             length: About 3.7 cm to 4.2 cm. Filament color: 63A. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 172A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 5 cm to             5.5 cm. Style color: 63A. Stigma color: 63B. Ovary color:             Close to 166A.         -   Fruit.—Quantity of fruit per plant: Few. Shape: Globular.             Size: About 1 cm by 8 mm. Color: 137C. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemerias. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from −5° C. to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsapaz’, as illustrated and described. 